My current husky Angel is very good at communicating. If she's hungry she'll lick her lips, if she wants water and her bowl is empty (rarely) she'll sit next to her water bowl and stare at me. If she wants to go outside, she'll get my attention and then go to the door, point at it with her nose and stare at me. If she wants to play, she'll attack me. If she sees or hears something or someone coming or on my property, she will get my attention and point it out with her nose. Her and Dante were great friends before he passed, and I see a lot of his personality in her all the time. I think it's important to keep dogs associated with each other as life goes on. They all pick up traits from each other and even when you do lose one, you never truly lose them, as a little bit of each one comes out in the next dog.
Dogs truly are man's best friend. I love animals in general. I like them more than most people, that's for sure!